The highlight of the anniversary year

Gioacchino Rossini was only 21 years old when he put together L’Italiana in Algeria for the Venice premiere in 1813. He himself claimed that it had taken him 18 days. The opera was an instant success and more than two hundred years later it continues to entertain us with its manic energy.

In Norrlandsoperan’s staging, the work’s original Italians have been replaced by lost Stockholmers, who are trapped and enslaved in the organic berry industry. The Sultan here becomes a small business owner from Västerbotten, whose focus on training and periodic fasting tells of a full-fledged fifty-year crisis. The question is, shouldn’t he dump his wife and get together with an influencer?

In this farcical sitcom, we meet an international top ensemble. The leading roles are sung by mezzo-soprano Sidsel Aja Eriksen from Denmark, tenor Vassilis Kavayas from Greece, and bass Markus Schwartz from Sweden. The director is Natalie Ringler, who most recently directed The Emperor’s New Clothes at Norrlandsoperan. German conductor Nikolas Nägele leads the Norrlandsoperan Symphony Orchestra.

Norrlandsoperan, 50 years
It is not only the Sultan who has turned fifty. Norrlandsoperan was founded in 1974 and the very first opera we staged was The Italian in Algiers. Therefore, this production is a highlight of our anniversary year. Welcome to celebrate with us!